GAC South boys soccer capsules
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| FILE PHOTO Senior Dan Frohock is a four-year starter on the Fort Zumwalt West boys soccer team. Frohock was selected to the second all-state team last year. |
Staff Writers
Fort Zumwalt SouthCoach: Andy Delehaunty
2007 record: 4-2 GAC South, 17-9-1 (Lost 3-0 to SLUH in the Class 3 sectionals)
Key returners: Seniors Andrew Chapman (F), Zach Gomez (MF) and Frank Lamzik (B, MF); Juniors Tommy Baker (F), Ousmane Gueye (F), Dane O'Keefe (WB), Andrew Riggs (GK), Jon Schreiber (B), Brian Aubuchon (B) and Justin Gomez (B)
Key newcomers: Seniors Mike Hetlage (MF), Colin Schneider (WB); Sophomore Jimmy Tegarden (MF, F)
Team strength: The Bulldogs were third in the GAC South last year in goals scored (59), but they might just have the best one-two punch at forward than the other six teams this fall. Delehaunty said Chapman is taller, stronger and faster. After scoring 15 goals in 2006, Chapman had 13 goals and 34 points last year and benefitted from his one-year partnership with the team's leading goal scorer, Alioune Gueye, who had 16 goals but has graduated. Gueye's younger brother, Ousmane, is Chapman's new running mate after scoring 8 goals and 9 assists last season. Riggs was voted on the second team all-GAC South squad last year after posting a 1.26 goals against average and 11 shutouts, playing behind a very young defense. After a year of learning on the job, the backfield of O'Keefe, Schreiber, Justin Gomez, Aubuchon and Lamzik are ready to help Riggs reach the first team in 2008.
Question mark: With 19 players Delehaunty says are all capable of playing at any time, an all-GAC keeper and two experienced proven strikers, it's hard to find any weaknesses. At this point, the midfield is probably the most unproven area on the team.
Overall synopsis: The Bulldogs have proven they can compete with any team in their conference, and can win a district title, but against private Catholic schools (DeSmet, Duchesne, CBC and SLUH twice) last year, they were 0-5 and outscored 21-1. Duchesne is in a lower class, but make no mistake, any road paved to Anheuser-Busch Center goes through the MCC. Chapman and Gueye are talented enough to each score 20 goals, but look for one or the other to emerge as the team's scoring king.
"The nice thing about us, is I have 19 guys, and I can play any one of them. We can substitute without hesitation," Delehaunty said.
"Our conference and district will be just as difficult as it always is."
Francis Howell
Coach: Michael Enright
2007 record: 3-3 GAC South, 9-12-1
Key returners: Seniors Cory Herweck (GK), Austin Michelson (C-MF), Scott Hunter (MF), Grant Rabus (WMF), Jake O'Neill (F), Brandon Huck (F); Juniors Justin Williams (C-MF), Blake Wager (SW), Jake Baumgartner (MF), Alex Hurley (B)
Key newcomers: Senior Ben Spaunhorst (B); Juniors Nick Dolan (GK), Conner McDonnell (GK), Vince Vueltmann (C-MF), Dillon Crane (MF); Sophomores Jacob Beger (B), Zach Bayer (B), Trey Berry (MF), Brian Porter (MF)
Team strength: Enright feels depth is the Vikings' best asset this year. They have six returning starters and several all-GAC players at various levels. Michelson switches from the backfield to center midfield this year, and might even be used as a forward. The Vikings have lacked a goal-scoring threat and Michelson could be that guy. Hunter scored "big goals" against Howell Central and Howell North and the Vikings trod water in the South at 3-3. Enright said the fitness level had improved across the roster which will make all those 1-goal games they seem to play more winnable.
Question mark: A big fat one in the goal. Herweck played in 140 minutes behind Nick Kasper last year and allowed five goals. Enright said none of the three keepers has made a decisive impression. The Vikings' added fitness will help if they play the amount of overtime games they did last year, where they were 2-8-1.
Overall synopsis: Enright said that last season was a huge step in the right direction in effort and expects that to continue this fall. He wants the Vikings to be thought of us an upper-echelon team like Zumwalt West, Zumwalt South and Howell North. None of that will matter though unless one of the three candidates for keeper steps up and turns in a good season.
"Overall, I have been impressed by the leadership of the senior returners," Enright said. "They've been really motivated and have encouraged the younger players to work hard. They are all dedicated to taking that next step in districts and the conference."
Francis Howell Central
Coach: Dan Hogan
2007 record: 1-5 GAC South, 8-17
Key returners: Seniors Dan DuHadway (GK), Dave Sanford (D-MF), Dan Hurst (B), Joe Walters (C-MF), Nick Dougherty (MF), Mike Rozycki (MF), Chris Bax (W-MF, S), Brett Humes (S, MF); Juniors Joe Macke (B), Matt Kiley (B), Christian Baez (W-MF), Taylor Yocum (F)
Key newcomers: Senior Joe Rodell (GK); Juniors Shane Kozlowski (B), Corey Scharf (MF, F), Chase Stoneking (C-MF); Sophomore Derek Hoerman (B)
Team strength: The Spartans are strongest and deepest in goal where DuHadway takes over after splitting time with Mike Sprague last year. DuHadway had a 1.46 goals against average and six shutouts. Rodell is up from the JV and Griffin transferred to Howell Central. Macke is a three-year starter, team captain and returning all-GAC South player. Sanford is a second-year captain.
Question mark: Where will the offense come from? The Spartans were the lowest-scoring team in the GAC South last year with 24 goals. Nobody on the Spartans scored more than three goals, although Humes and Walters return after notching that many. Can DuHadway solidify the goal area full-time? With two seniors behind him, that should help keep him motivated.
Overall synopsis: Dan Hogan is a superb soccer coach, and he's good friends with Howell North coach Vince Nowak, but Hogan has never reached the level of success as the Knights. With the possibility of moving several players around, the Spartans don't have a solid lineup with the first game of the season against Zumwalt North on Sept. 2.
"We might still move things around," Hogan said. "We need to have more poise in the penalty area, and they key to that is, are we going to be mavericks and play on our own, or are we going to stick to the game plan?"
Francis Howell North
Coach: Vince Nowak
2007 record: 17-6-2 overall, 4-2 in GAC South (tied-2nd)
Key returners: Seniors Eric Stanowski (GK), Kyle Kingston (B), Max Nagel (MF), Luke Griesenauer (MF), Nick Berra (F/MF/B), Tony Benn (F) and Tyler Bolte (F/MF); Juniors Ryan Firle (B), Robby Friedlein (MF), Zach Short (B), Logan North (MF) and Brian Peth
Key newcomers: Juniors - Austin Haywood (GK), Greg Felock (B), Drew Barfield (MF) and Patrick Donnelly (MF); Sophomores - Scott Raver (F), Zach Johnson (F) and Jeremy Ellis (MF); Freshman - Sam Worsley (B)
Team strength: Stanowski is the first four-year starting goalkeeper in the history of the Howell North program, which enters its 23rd season. Nowak said Stanowski, who was named to the all-GAC South first team last season, "is very special," and he brings a combination of quickness, athleticism and soccer knowledge the likes of which Howell North has probably never had at that position. The Knights' defense returns a couple starters as well, led by Kingston, a wingback last season, who will fill the sweeper spot. Firle is back and looking good at wingback after an injury-plagued 2007 season. Worsley shows promise and has likely earned a starting spot. Nagel, North, Friedlein and Griesenauer all started at midfield last year, and Nowak said Griesenauer, a three-year starter, will likely team with North in the center spots.
Question mark: Their top three scorers from last season - Dan Moyers (16 goals, 3 assists), Eric Hutson (7, 5) and Thomas Flack (3, 4) - all graduated, but Nowak said he is optimistic that last year's role players, such as Benn, Bolte and Peth, as well as Berra, who is sort of a jack-of-all-trades for the Knights, will take on more of a scoring load. Nowak said Raver and Johnson are "the wild cards" for the varsity team after leading the JV squad in scoring last season.
Overall synopsis: After what by Howell North's standards was a pretty typical regular season, the Knights were upset by Francis Howell 1-0 in the first round of the district tournament. The GAC South race proved disappointing for Howell North as well, with a late-season 2-1 loss at Troy knocking the team out of title contention. Nowak said the returning players come into this season with thoughts of "what could have been and should have been." But with Stanowski in goal, the Knights are fueled by the confidence of knowing that they could post a shutout at any time.
"I think we've got a terrific conference. I think the GAC South is the best public school around," Nowak said. "You'd better show up and bring your best effort for every team you play, because everybody is capable of beating everybody, and I mean that sincerely. Every one of those six conference games is a battle."
Holt
Coach: Bobby Nicholson
2007 record: 11-12 overall, 0-6 in GAC South
Key returners: Seniors Danny Magnin (GK), Jake Loeffler (MF), Kyle Haas (MF), Jared Park (MF), Eric Warrington (MF), Josh Ward (B) and Mark Andrew (B); Juniors Cullen Halpin (F) and Danny Jack (MF); Sophomores Ryan Haas (B) and Justin Peters (MF/B)
Key newcomer: Junior Justin Ward (B)
Team strength: The Indians are not short on varsity experience. Despite the loss of nine seniors, including several starters, the team returns 11 players, most of whom Nicholson said were in the regular rotation and saw a lot of playing time. Magnin enters his fourth varsity season, the last two as the sole starter, and he went 10-10 with a 1.43 goals against average and four shutouts last year. Josh Ward and Ryan Haas will anchor the Holt backfield, alternating between the stopper and sweeper spots, and Nicholson said both players are excellent in transition and have the skill to join the Indians' attack. Park and Kyle Haas return for their second season in the center midfield spots. Nicholson said that duo has played together all four years in the Holt program, and they communicate very well with each other as well as the rest of the team. Halpin, in his third varsity season, scored four goals with seven assists last year, and Nicholson said he is "a little workhorse for us." Loeffler has a nose for the goal, plus the work ethic to give opposing defenses headaches.
Question mark: One player the Wolves lost to graduation is Tim Toolen, who with 15 goals and six assists played a direct part in almost half of the team's 46 goals scored last year. Nicholson doesn't expect any one player to make up for those numbers but is hopeful that he has the right mix to more than fill the scoring void. "This year, the team's not going to be looking for that one guy to score," Nicholson said. "I think it will be spread out a little more and a little more balanced." Warrington progressed tremendously through his first varsity season and could provide a dangerous attacker from an outside midfield spot, but he has been battling a back injury.
Overall synopsis: With a winning record in its sights last season, Holt lost its last five games to finish 11-12. Nicholson said a few setbacks over the course of '07 seemed to weigh heavily on the team, but his players are motivated to avoid such pitfalls this fall and have prepared themselves both mentally and physically for the long haul.
"I think the program's going in the right direction," Nicholson said. "Probably the biggest question is how mentally tough we can be. If we're down 1-0 and it's late in the game, can we pull it out, and I think guys learned last year that the game's not over till the final whistle blows. We had several PK losses that, the boys kind of realize, 'Hey, let's get the job done in regulation or overtime.'"
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